Campaigners fighting for the return of the Coventry Bees speedway team to Brandon Stadium have been thrown a lifeline by a government planning inspector.

In an interim report examining the Rugby Local Plan, the inspector, Mike Hayden, recommended changes which would provide greater protection for Brandon Stadium going forward.

The historic home of the Coventry Bees speedway team and the CoventryStox stock car operation - which has hosted speedway events since 1928 - is currently in a poor state following a long-running dispute between owners Brandon Estates and former owner Avtar Sandhu.

The row - which saw its fixtures and fittings removed - meant the Bees were unable to race there for the last campaign in speedway’s Elite League and there are fears the sport may never return to the site.

Plan for housing on site submitted

However the site is in the green belt and did not form part of the Rugby Local Plan, meaning any application to build homes would struggle to be approved.

Inspector addressed Brandon Stadium specifically

The subject was addressed in Phase 2 hearings into the Rugby Local Plan last month and the inspector’s interim response has been hailed as “a major step forward” by the Save Coventry Speedway campaign group, which wants to save Brandon Stadium and see speedway and stock car racing return there.

In a specific section on Brandon Stadium in his interim report, Mr Hayden said: “I heard evidence at the hearings about the potential redevelopment and loss of the Brandon or Coventry Stadium.

“Notwithstanding the current condition of the site, it is evident that the stadium was until recently in active use for speedway and stock car racing.

“In the light of this, the absence of a policy to safeguard existing sports and recreational buildings from being built on unless surplus to requirements or replaced elsewhere, in line with paragraph 74 of the NPPF, renders the plan unsound.”

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Safeguards not in place for sports facilities

He added: “Such safeguards are in place for open space and community facilities in the borough, but not sports facilities.

“Accordingly, main modifications should be included to apply the tests in policies HS3 and HS4 and their supporting text to sports facilities.

“This would also ensure that any planning application for the redevelopment of the Brandon Stadium could be assessed against evidence for its need, viability and alternative provision.”

Does not represent a rejection of housing plan

The Save Coventry Speedway campaign said it should be stressed the inspector’s comments did not represent a rejection of Brandon Estates’ speculative planning application for the site.

However it said it was optimistic going forward that an amended Rugby Local Plan could include specific protection for Brandon Stadium.

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In a statement Save Coventry Speedway said: “The response from Mr Hayden is significant, and the first concrete success for the campaign group, which was initially launched in late 2014.

“It also shows that our twin-track approach of responding to the Local Plan as well as objecting to the planning application was the correct strategy.

“This outcome will have a bearing on the determination of the planning application.”

Campaigners spoke at hearing

Jeff Davies from Save Coventry Speedway and Dave Carter from CoventryStox spoke at the recent hearing and Mr Davies attended a site visit with the inspector, where representatives of Brandon Estates were also present.

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Open to discussions going forward

Despite being critical of Brandon Estates for not taking steps to provide a replacement venue before trying to get planning permission to develop the site, which it said had “failed spectacularly” Save Coventry Speedway said it was still open to holding discussions on the future of the stadium.

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Coventry Bees and Brandon Stadium

The campaign group’s statement added: “We remain open to discussions with Brandon Estates and Rugby Borough Council aimed at finding a solution, which would have to involve the return of both sports to the area as soon as possible.”

“We stress again we are open to talks, and we know of parties interested in operating at the stadium.

“There is still potentially a long process to follow, but we hope this news demonstrates that our approach is the correct one – and, most importantly, that we will continue this campaign for as long as it takes.”